PhD in plant ecology, University of Wales, Bangor. (The Páramo Vegetation of Ecuador: the Community Ecology, Dynamics and Productivity of Tropical Grasslands in the Andes)

1985

BSc (Hons) Biology, University of Wales, Bangor.

Professional membership

Fellow of the Society of Biology Member of the British Ecological Society

Teaching

Teaching interests

My teaching interests reflect my research themes: biodiversity and conservation. During my time at the University of Plymouth, I have contributed a wide variety of subject matter on many different courses. I currently contribute to three modules in our postgraduate programmes and to nine undergraduate modules in our BSc (Hons) programmes in Environmental Biology, Marine Biology, Marine Biology & Coastal Ecology, and Biological Sciences.

Research

Research interests

My work is mostly focused on biodiversity and conservation management in two distinct geographical areas: the Andes and European uplands. However, I started off my career as a marine biologist and I have also been involved in several projects on aquatic ecology. Before joining the University of Plymouth, I worked for four years as an environmental consultant and I appreciate the need for practical advice on biodiversity conservation.

1. Biodiversity and sustainable use of tropical alpine grasslands in the Andes

Over 20 years ago, I carried out the first comprehensive survey of the vegetation of the high-altitude grasslands (páramos) of Ecuador. I also studied plant population dynamics in relation to agricultural fires. Subsequently, my interests broadened to include invertebrates and birds, and other Andean countries. Currently, I am involved in diverse projects in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru: plant community ecology, spatial relationships between plants, and hummingbird-plant interactions.

2. Biodiversity and sustainable use of high-altitude forest remnants in the Andes

Alongside the páramo grasslands are high-altitude forest patches. Since 1985 I have carried out investigations in these Polylepis woodlands—the highest woodlands in the world. Usually small and isolated, these woodlands are under threat from the gradual loss of trees at the woodland edge during grassland fires and from fuelwood collection by poor, high-altitude farmers. My current work is in Peru and Ecuador.

There are three themes to my work:

a. The population dynamics of Polylepis itselfHow does Polylepis regenerate inside the woodland? Why does it fail to recolonise areas outside the woodland boundaries? How quickly do the trees grow? How old are they?

b. Biodiversity of Polylepis woodlandsWhat species are found in these patches? How does the biodiversity relate to “forest quality”?

c. Conservation of Polylepis woodlandsWhat are the main threats to Polylepis woodlands? How have the woodlands changed over time? How can we monitor the success of Polylepis woodland conservation and restoration? Part of this work involves working alongside local communities to provide alternatives to Polylepis fuelwood, and to minimise the impact of ongoing and past loss through replanting. This work also provides an opportunity for an occasional, humbling game of football at 4100 m!

I am also supervising a project in the Colombian Andes, looking at the ecology of two species of threatened parakeets (Leptosittaca branickii and Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons) and evaluating different approaches to habitat assessment and management for these birds.

3. Conservation and habitat management

Another research theme involves the study of particular organisms of conservation importance. Particular plants and animals have a greater significance for research than others because of their ecological, economic or cultural importance. I am particularly interested in spatial relationships between species, and the conservation importance of these relationships. Some of this work involves relatively complex spatial analysis and modelling.

Conservation management is another element of my research interests. In particular, I am investigating the relationship between land use and conservation. I have been involved in surveys of Mexican mountain forests, some with regard to the monarch butterflies mentioned earlier. In the UK, I have worked with postgraduate students on grazing management and its effects on plant communities. We are evaluating the impact of mowing as a surrogate for grazing in Dartmoor National Park. In the Andes, I have studied the effects of fires on plant and animal communities.

Restoration of damaged ecosystems is another area of interest for me. I am currently involved in forest restoration projects in Ecuador and Peru, both working with local people to replant native trees for conservation and ecosystem services.

4. Approaches to studying biodiversity that do not involve species identification

I often work in places where the taxonomy of the organisms I meet is poorly understood. This has obvious implications for the kinds of studies that are possible within reasonable time frames. One solution to this problem is the use of functional types: groups of organisms with similar resource use and responses to environmental change. With this approach, it is possible to compare different ecosystems with few, or no, species in common. It also permits ecological studies with groups that have not been described adequately in taxonomic terms. However, the obvious question with such studies is, “Do functional types provide useful information, or information comparable to that obtained using traditional taxonomic approaches?” Part of my interest, therefore, is to explore this basic question. In a similar way, I have looked at the suitability of using supra-specific identifications for studying biodiversity.

I am tackling more specific issues, too. I have defined plant functional types using morphological and ecophysiological traits in Ecuador, Spain and Mexico. Using this approach I have tested ideas about evolutionary convergence at high altitudes (Ecuador) and the detection of plant communities with functional types (Picos de Europa, Spain). I have also worked with biomass-size spectra (how biomass is divided up between organisms of different sizes) to describe communities of aquatic invertebrates in river, estuary and marine benthos. Again, I have used this approach to consider similarities and differences in systems with completely different taxa to test hypotheses about community structure.

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Current graduate students

Bejarano-Bonilla DA (in preparation) The relationship of an endemic and threatened parakeet, Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons Lawrence 1880, with habitat quality and land use in the Colombian Andes. PhD, University of Plymouth.

Maliwichi-Nyirenda C (in preparation) Population variation and conservation status of Berberis holstii in Nyika National Park, Malawi. PhD, University of Plymouth.

Edwards CJ (2002) China clay sand waste-tip restoration to lowland heath using a water tyreatment works sludge as a soil substitute: seedling recruitment and development. MSc thesis, University of Plymouth.

Summers, S (2006) Climate change and Laminaria interactions in the south-west of England. MSc thesis, University of Plymouth.

Wheeldon RC (2002) The impacts of forest disturbance on bird species richness and composition in a Mexican montane forested catchment. MSc thesis, University of Plymouth.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows

Duckworth JC (1998-1999) The role of plant functional types in the description of mountain ecosystem biodiversity for conservation. Jointly with Prof. Martin Kent, School of Geography, University of Plymouth. Funding from University of Plymouth.

Ramsay PM2001'Páramo vegetation recovery in the first two years after a fire on Volcán Chiles, Ecuador'in Ramsay PMThe Ecology of Volcán Chiles: high-altitude ecosystems on the Ecuador-Colombia borderPlymouthPebble & Shell65-73

Ramsay PM1999'Landscape mosaics in the High Andes: the role of fire in páramo communities'in Kovář PNature and Culture in Landscape Ecology: Experiences for the 3rd MillenniumPragueThe Karolinum Press192-199

Ramsay PM1999'Student ecology project work in Ecuador'in Williams C; Griffiths J; Chalkley BFieldwork in the SciencesPlymouthScience Education Enhancement and Development and the University of Plymouth37-39